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| Interior Matter Gallery. Photo by Gabi Clayton |
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| Pat Tassoni's lamps at Matter Gallery |
Matter
Gallery in Olympia is closing at the end of the month. At least in their
present location. The owners of this artist-run gallery say they are looking
into options for reopening in another location, but at least for the
foreseeable near future they are history. And what a history.
Jo
Gallaugher stablished the gallery in downtown Olympia in2009. She started out
with 48 artists including George Kurzman, Christopher Gerber, Don Freas from
Olympia; Eric Osborne, Vblast, Russ Morgan from Seattle; Brian Mock, Joel
Heidel from Portland; Jason Brown from Bellingham and Don O’Connor from
Ellensburg. Matter features artworks that, in Gallaugher’s words “incorporate
recycled, reclaimed, and responsibly harvested materials” including a balance
of functional crafts and fine art pieces.
Today
they represent more than 100 artists and is one of the most popular South Sound
galleries among fellow artists and arts patrons, having been named best gallery
in Olympia by the Weekly Volcano’s reader poll in 2011, 2012 and 2014. In its
five years of operation Matter has surely provided more exhibition
opportunities for local and regional artists than any other gallery in Western
Washington.
Gallaugher
moved to Seattle in March 2014, and ownership of the gallery was taken over by
a small group of owner-artists who ran it as a cooperative venture. Shortly
before Christmas they announced — on Facebook, naturally — that their last day
in business at the Washington Street location would be Jan. 31. The final straw
was a rent hike hitting in the slowest months of the year, which the Facebook
posting said was “more than we can sustain as a small gallery featuring
green/sustainable outsider and non-traditional art. We are not giving up, we
just need to fall back, regroup and as Jude put it, ‘hibernate to incubate’."
(Jude is co-owner Jude Manley.) I recently spoke with Manley, who said they
have looked into some possibilities for a new location.
Gallaugher
said: “I was inspired to create Matter when I saw the work of Olympia artists
George Kurzman, Jude Manley, Pat Tassoni, Bil Fleming, Christopher Gerber, Ruby
Re-Usable, and Jennifer Kuhns. Some I saw at ArtsWalk, some were recommended to
me by patrons. Throughout the following five years, many other very special
artists joined Matter. While I found it to be very hard work, it was incredibly
rewarding to be surrounded by inspiring artists and artworks — and wonderful
patrons. I came to know so many as friends, delivered work to their homes,
called when new work from their favorite artists arrived. Conversations with
patrons… that’s what I miss the very, very most.”
Not
many businesses of any kind offer that kind of personalized service.
Gallaugher
went on to say: “It’s been a tough road for all storefronts downtown this past
year, and the artists who took the reins when I moved to Seattle in March have
done a remarkable job. I respect their decision to rethink how Matter will
operate, leaving this particular venue. I have faith that Matter patrons will
support Roxanna, Pat, and Jude (and all the artists) so that a positive
transition takes place. Quarterly pop-up galleries… who knows? Matter will
continue to exist… it will simply be in some other form.”
Artist
Steven Suski said, “For me it was great having my art at Matter to validate
artists who make art out of junk or recycled material. Matter’s art pushed my
boundaries of what art can be made of and what can be art. Matter's closing is
a real loss of diversity for Olympias art community.”
Operating
an art gallery is a tough business. Since I have been reviewing art in Olympia and
Tacoma I have seen more than a dozen fine galleries bite the dust. If Matter is
not able to reopen in some other location it will be a great loss to the area.
When
I visited last week there was more empty space than I have ever seen there.
Some of the artists have already picked up their work. But others are staying
until the end, and the gallery is offering a 25 percent discount on all artwork
through Jan. 31.
Matter Gallery,
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m.
Sunday and Tuesday, closed Monday, 422 Washington St. SE, Olympia, 360.943.1760]
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